WA Synergy Battery will store fossil fuel generated energy that can power 160,000 homes for two hours

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

WA's Synergy Battery website states: 

...the Big Battery will be capable of powering 160,000 homes for two hours.

The growing volume of energy produced by rooftop solar systems means there is increased electricity flowing into the network from residential homes. The extra energy is, in turn, reducing demand for electricity produced by power stations and is presenting challenges to system stability.

The Big Battery will improve system stability and help with the transition to increased renewables by charging and discharging rapidly, and smoothing the supply volatility caused by solar generation. It will also help by soaking up excess energy when demand is low during the day, storing it, and then discharging it into the system when demand picks up again in the afternoon and evening.

Meanwhile Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water shows that WA is still powered by fossil fuels.

The Synergy battery, which will be built at a cost of AUD 155 Million is funded by both the WA  and Commonwealth governments. The WA Government owns Synergy who also say: 

The battery will be able to store excess rooftop solar energy during the day, when demand is low, and discharge electricity rapidly during the afternoon and evening peak.

The battery is unlikely to be specifically tasked with gathering excess solar. It is to be connected to the Western Power network. It will store energy from all sources, and in the case of WA, that is more likely than not to be power generated from fossil fuels. 

Note also that Synergy says  the battery " will also help by soaking up excess energy when demand is low during the day, storing it, and then discharging it into the system when demand picks up again in the afternoon and evening." This of course assumes constant sunlight at the optimal level, which will then vary from household to household depending on the quality and state of repair of the solar cells installed on top of homes and other buildings.

The real purpose of the battery seems to be this which Synergy admits:smoothing the supply volatility caused by solar generation.

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